A For and Against Essay

A FOR AND AGAINST ESSAY
An essay is an academic formal piece of writing which describes, analyses or discusses a particular issue
The most common types are:
 Opinion essays: presents the writer’s personal opinion of the topic, supporting this opinion with examples and reasons.
 For and against essays: it presents both sides of an issue in a balanced way. In the concluding paragraph you can say why
you find one side more convincing than the other.
 Step 1. Tips and Guidelines +sample essay (pdf)

 Step 2. Presentation + sample essay
 Step 3. Using connectors of contrast
 Step 4. Using connectors of purpose
 Step 5. Write: 53 topics to write about .
TIPS AND GUIDELINES+ SAMPLE ESSAY

1. The first stage in writing is producing ideas. It’s important to dedicate two or three minutes to carefully planning what
you are going to say. Make a list of the points for and against. Remember that the key to writing a good balanced essay is
to include as many arguments you disagree with as those you agree with. They should be noted impartially although in
your conclusion you can say why you find one side more convincing than the other.
2. Producing and organising ideas is one thing. Shaping ideas and the organisation of your writing is another. But often the
most difficult part is starting a first draft.
Once you have your first draft pay attention to how you have organised the information into paragraphs and grouped ideas.
Once this is done you can focus on expression. This means looking at sentence structure, tense usage and vocabulary. It’s
important to write clearly and economically. This can mean either rephrasing ideas in two sentences instead of one, or
rewriting two longer sentences as one shorter sentence. So, go over your first draft, looking for ways of improving sentence
structure, tense usage and vocabulary.
3. Organise your essay into three parts:
 Introduction- Paragraph 1- Introduce the topic. Te opening should engage the reader’s interest and give a hint of what is
to follow
 Main Body- Normally you have two paragraphs. In Paragraph 2, you state your arguments for and in Paragraph 3, your
arguments against.
 Conclusion – In paragraph 4 you refer back to the topic, summarize and here you can say why you fnd one side more
convincing than the other
4. It’s important that you begin each paragraph with a main idea and then develop this idea. For a new idea, begin a new
paragraph.
5. This is academic writing, so don’t use informal style ( no contractions, colloquial words, or emotional language)
6. Remember to use a variety of structures and vocabulary adequate to your level.
USEFUL LINKING WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS

• To list points: Firstly, First of all, In the first place, To begin/start with, Secondly, Thirdly, Finally
 To list advantages: One/Another/A further/An additional (major) advantage of… is … The main/greatest/first advantage
of… is …
• To list disadvantages: One/Another/ A further/An additional (major) disadvantage/drawback of. The main/greatest/most
serious disadvantage /drawback of… Another negative aspect of…
• To introduce points/arguments for or against: One (very convincing) point/argument in favour of/ against … A further
common criticism of… It could be argued/It is often claimed/It is suggested that … It is widely argued/ believed that …
Some/many/most people/experts/scientist/critics ….claim/suggest/argue/ feel/maintain/believe/point out/agree/support
the view that… oppose the view that… are in favour of/against… are of the opinion that/convinced that… are opposed to…
• To add more points to the same topic: in addition (to this), furthermore, moreover, besides, apart from, what is more, as
well as, not to mention (the fact) that, also, /as well, both … and
• To make contrasting points: on the other hand, however, still, yet, but, nevertheless, even so, although, though, even
though, while, whereas, despite/in spite of
• To introduce examples: for example, for instance, such as, like, in particular, particularly, especially, This is (clearly)
illustrated/shown by the fact that… One/A clear/striking/ typical example of (this)…
• To emphasise a point: clearly, obviously, naturally, needless to say
• To make general statements: as a (general) rule, generally, in general, in most cases
• To make partially correct statements: to a certain extent/degree, to some extent/degree, in a way/sense, this is partly
true (but)
• To explain/clarify a point: in other words, that is to say, this/which means that
• To express cause: owing to, due to (the fact that), because, as, since
• To express effect: therefore, as a result/consequence, consequently, so, for this reason.
• To express intention: to, so as to, in order to, so that, with the intention of (+ing)
Useful expressions and linking it can be said/claimed that … …

words/phrases: Conclusion it seems/appears that… ...
expressing balanced it would seem that… …
considerations/opinion indirectly In it is likely/unlikely/possible that …
conclusion, it is clear/obvious that… …
On balance, there is no/little doubt that …
All things considered, it is true to say that … …
Taking everything into account it may be concluded/said that …
/consideration, it is my belief/opinion that …
To conclude, I (firmly) believe/feel/think that … …
To sum up, I am convinced that … …
All in all, I am inclined to believe that …
Finally/Lastly,
Handout: How to Write an Opinion Essay
The basic five-paragraph essay structure, which you have probably used many times by this point, works extremely well for
an opinion essay. It’s a starting point, and when you get to university your profs will expect a more complex approach to
essay writing. If you feel confident about your essay-writing skills, you can certainly branch out into longer and more
complex essays. But this basic five-paragraph outline is a good starting point, especially if you feel uncertain of your ability.
An opinion essay exists to prove your main point – your thesis. This should be clearly stated in your opening
paragraph. Don’t leave the reader to guess what your position is on the issue – make a clear stand!
Next, develop your argument in the body of your essay. Each paragraph should contain a single, clear idea that support your
point of view. You can use examples and illustration, cause-and-effect reasoning, comparison/contrast or other methods of
development to support your argument.
Research: Any statements you make that would cause a reader to say, “Wait, how do you know that’s true?” need to be
backed up with documentation from outside sources (“I saw something on TV about it one time” would not be considered
adequate documentation). Refer to the handout “What is Research?” for further details.
Remember that a paragraph is three to five sentences that develop a single, clear idea. A good paragraph often begins with
a topic sentence that sums up your main idea.
· Paragraph One -- The introduction. Here you state the main idea of your entire essay -- the point you are trying to
make or prove. This paragraph should include your thesis statement plus three reasons why you believe this statement to
be true.
· Paragraphs Two, Three and Four. These are the body of your essay. Remember back in Paragraph One, you gave
three reasons for your opinion? Three reasons, three body paragraphs. Each of the body paragraphs should take one of your
reasons and explain it in more detail, citing sources where necessary.
· Paragraph Five -- The conclusion. Former Newfoundland premier Joey Smallwood once said about giving speeches:
"First I tell them what I'm going to tell them, then I tell them, then I tell them what I told them." That's how you write an
essay. In the conclusion, tell them what you told them. Sum up your argument by restating your thesis statement and
reminding the reader what your three reasons were. In an argumentative essay, you can finish with a "call to action" -- tell
the reader what you would like them to do as a result.
Sample Five-Paragraph Essay

Subject: Should parents have their children vaccinated?
Title Why You Should Vaccinate Your Kids

Author’s Name sample essay for student use by Trudy Morgan-Cole
Since Edward Jenner introduced the first successful smallpox vaccine by

Paragraph One: injecting an eight-year-old boy with cowpox pus in 1796, vaccines have been
Introduction an important part of public health care around the world (“Edward Jenner”).
Yet today, many parents choose not to vaccinate their children. Because
Three reasons for my vaccines are widely supported by research, have few side effects, and have
opinion proven successful in halting the spread of disease, I believe it is important that
all parents continue to vaccinate their children.
Thesis statement
All major health organizations, including the Centres for Disease Control and
the World Health Organization, recommend vaccination. The value of
vaccination is supported by research from around the world, and researchers
Paragraph Two: are constantly working to improve the safety and effectiveness of vaccines.
Develops the first Epidemiologists, the scientists whose job is to study the outbreak of disease,
reason by giving all recommend vaccination.
examples
Many parents worry about the safety of vaccines. While side effects do occur,
Topic Sentence they are usually minor, like redness or swelling around the site of an injection.
In Canada, only about one in a million doses of vaccine leads to serious side
effects (“Fact and Fiction”). The most famous study linking vaccines to autism,
Paragraph Three: one which got many parents worried about vaccination, has been proven false
Topic Sentence and the doctor who conducted the study has had his medical license taken
away (Triggle).
Develops the second
reason, giving facts Around the world, increased vaccination leads to better public health. Diseases
and statistics to like smallpox and polio which once killed and disabled millions of people are
support the virtually unknown today thanks to immunization programs. Yet in countries
statement. like Afghanistan and Pakistan where the Taliban discourage immunization,
rates of polio are on the rise again (Nordland).
Paragraph Four:
Topic sentence If and when you have children, please get them vaccinated. The risks are
minimal and you’ll not only be following the best advice of medical science
Develops third and protecting your own child from disease; you’ll be helping in the fight to
reason, giving an eradicate infectious diseases in your community and around the world.
example
Paragraph
Five:Conclusion
Restatement of thesis
Summary of reasons

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What are the main points of an argumentative essay?

What are some useful linking words and expressions for an argumentative essay?

A FOR AND AGAINST ESSAY

 Step 1. Tips and Guidelines +sample essay (pdf)

TIPS AND GUIDELINES+ SAMPLE ESSAY

USEFUL LINKING WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS

• To emphasise a point: clearly, obviously, naturally, needless to say

• To make general statements: as a (general) rule, generally, in general, in most cases

• To explain/clarify a point: in other words, that is to say, this/which means that

• To express effect: therefore, as a result/consequence, consequently, so, for this reason.

Useful expressions and linking it can be said/claimed that … …

Sample Five-Paragraph Essay

Title Why You Should Vaccinate Your Kids

Since Edward Jenner introduced the first successful smallpox vaccine by

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